Columbia softball tops Waterloo, now 7-0

Monday’s game between Waterloo and Columbia showcased two local high school softball teams playing well to start the season.

Columbia freshman Kelly Metter’s single drove home Taryn Pena in the top of the seventh inning to break a 1-1 tie, and the Eagles held on for the 2-1 win over their cross-county rival.

Pena was 4-for-4 on the day, and senior Brianna Weilbacher struck out 12 on the mound to keep Columbia perfect at 7-0. Waterloo fell to 3-2.

It was a well-played game by both teams on a windy day at WHS.

Last Wednesday, Weilbacher threw a two-hit shutout as the Eagles beat Belleville West, 6-0. Weilbacher helped her own cause at the plate, going 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs. Kaylee Bastien went 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBIs.

Thursday, the Eagles played Mascoutah and the hot hitting continued as well as their solid pitching. Weilbacher gave up 2 runs on 2 hits and struck out 11 as the Eagles went on to beat the Indians, 12-2.

Rachel Garcia was the offensive star, going 1-for-3 with a home run and 4 RBIs.

The Eagles played a Saturday doubleheader against Shelbyville, and the results were much the same as they have been all season.

Weilbacher threw a one-hitter while striking out 10, and the offense just smoked the ball as Columbia took game one 20-1.

Garcia had a huge game, going 2-for-3 with a double, home run and 7 RBIs. Pena went 1-for-3 with 3 RBIs and Kalli Farmer was 2-for-2 with 3 RBIs.

In game two, Shelbyville jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before the Eagles put up 2 runs in back-to-back innings on their way to a 6-3 win.

Bastien went 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and an RBI and Weilbacher and Pena each added a double and RBI.

“We have been having pretty solid at-bats up and down the line up. We have been playing solid defense and working as a team to get the job done,” Columbia head coach Rhonda Major said. “Brianna Weilbacher has been doing a great job in the circle.”

Prior to Monday’s one-run loss to Columbia, Waterloo went 1-1 in recent action. The Bulldogs have been getting great pitching and are playing good defense — they just have not been getting the key hits when they need them.

The ‘Dogs played O’Fallon last Wednesday and it was a pitchers’ duel the whole way. Waterloo was held to 5 hits and pitcher Kasey Bradley held the Panthers to 4 hits, but O’Fallon found a way to score in the fifth inning and took the game, 1-0.

On Friday, Waterloo played Belleville East in another close game, but this time the ‘Dogs prevailed, 3-2.

Belleville scored 2 runs in the first off Bradley, but she settled down after that and held the Lancers scoreless the rest of the way.

Taylor Yearian only had one hit in the game, but it was a monster shot over the wall for a three-run homer in the sixth inning to provide all the offense it needed.

“Defensively, we are really starting to gel. Offensively, we are putting the ball in play but need to start stringing our hits together,” Waterloo head coach Sarah Renner said.

Dupo stays hot

The Dupo girls are off to a hot start on the season, riding a five-game win streak after last week’s games.

Thursday, the Tigers (6-1) spotted Brussels 3 runs in the first before storming back to take the game, 10-5. Megan Brown gave up 2 earned runs on 4 hits while striking out 10 on the mound. Brown also went 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI.

Friday, Dupo played Freeburg and Brown was on the mound again, throwing a two-hit shutout and striking out 14 in a 6-0 win. Brown again helped herself at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double. Caitlyn Brizzi went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Saturday, the Tigers fell behind Alton Marquette, 5-0, before storming back with 8 runs in the fourth and 4 runs in the fifth to take the game, 15-7.

Rachel Donald went 4-for-5 with a triple and 3 RBIs. Savannah Maldonado went 1-for-4 with a home run and 3 RBIs.

“Overall, a very good week highlighted by a very well played game against a very solid Freeburg team,” Dupo head coach Greg Pennock said. “After a poor defensive performance in the Brussels game (5 errors), we played the next two games error-free. Any coach would be happy with that improvement.”

Hawks find ways to win

The Gibault girls have won five in a row after dropping their opening game of the season.

Last Wednesday, the Hawks scored in every inning but the second on their way to a 13-3 stomping of Civic Memorial.

Paige Wriston led the offense, going 3-for-3 with 2 doubles and 5 RBIs. Hannah Knese went 3-for-4 with a double, home run and 3 RBIs.

Thursday, the Hawks put up 7 runs in the first on their way to an easy 13-3 win against Cahokia. Hannah Dengler led the charge, going 4-for-4 at the plate with 2 RBIs.

Saturday, the Hawks played a doubleheader with Marissa, winning both games. The first game was a nailbiter, going eight innings before the Hawks took the 2-1 win.

Noelle Davis gave up 1 run on 9 hits and struck out 9. Wriston went 2-for-4 with 2 doubles and an RBI. Lauren Prader went 3-for-3 with a home run and RBI.

In the second game, Marissa jumped out to a 5-1 lead before the Hawks put up 4 runs in back-to-back innings on their way to a 14-9 win.

Prader led the charge on offense, going 3-for-4 with a double and 4 RBIs.

Valmeyer loses

Valmeyer played Okawville last Wednesday — only its second game of the young season.

The Pirates kept it close early before Okawville put up 3 runs in the fourth and sixth innings to take the game, 10-1.

Jordyn Killy had the RBI for Valmeyer and Claire DeBourge and Miranda Kaufmann each went 1-for-3.

“We didn’t hit very well and we made some mistakes on defense,” Valmeyer head coach Rich Kasson said. “We have a good team. We have to be more aggressive at the plate and decrease our strikeouts.”

Greg Stanek

Greg is a photojournalist and nurse. He shoots and does stories for the R-T. He grew up in Troy and has lived in Waterloo for 10 years with his wife Teena, a life-long Waterloo resident. Greg is a die-hard Pittsburgh Steeler fan and loves the outdoors and fly fishing.